5 ms·

Le fardier de Cugnot: Replica of the first automobile

105 points by loulouxiv 6y ago

TBurette 6y ago
The original is in the "Musée des arts et métiers" Museum in Paris. I highly recommend to visit the museum if you ever are in Paris. It's filled with all kind of original scientific and engineering devices. Lavoisier device that split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Jaquard's weaving loom using punching cards. Clément Ader's late 19th century attempt at creating a plane. Blaise Pascal's Mechanical calculator. Prototype metre bar. Old supercomputers...
- rashkov 6y ago
  They also have Foucoult's pendulum (the original, as well a working replica in action). It's a really unique feeling to observe the earth rotating beneath you. I loved this museum when I visited. I learned about here on Hacker News, so I hope others will take note of this museum. It was remarkable how beautifully designed the objects were. Scientific instruments, architectural models, prototypes and machinery. All beautifully made with a focus on aesthetics as well as functionality.
  - edgarvaldes 6y ago
    I can't read about the Musée des arts et métiers without thinking in Umberto Eco's book (Foucault's Pendulum)
- _ZeD_ 6y ago
  If you pass in Milan you should not miss the "museo nazionale della scienza e tecnologia leonardo da vinci"[0], filled with labs, expositions ... and a real submarine (the S506 Enrico Toti) [0] https://www.museoscienza.org/ https://www.museoscienza.org/
athenot 6y ago
Here a video of it in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQfm6qYADw4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQfm6qYADw4
- londons_explore 6y ago
  I hope they snuck in a modern pressure relief valve in there somewhere... If not - I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the thing while the fires lit!
  - nraynaud 6y ago
    I am pretty sure the entire boiler is made of steel, with modern standards, nobody would dare to make a boiler out of cast iron anymore.
- pengaru 6y ago
  The demonstration payload is the best part.
tyingq 6y ago
"Popular legend says it belched and snorted through the streets, frightening the good citizens of Paris, before it overturned and knocked down a wall, whereupon it was confiscated and its inventor thrown into prison" https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2118816/1771-cugnot-fardier-vapeur-mother-all-motorcars/ https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2118816/1771-cugnot-fardier-v... "Popular legend", but interesting if true.
- realusername 6y ago
  After seeing the video above of the machine in action, I totally believe the legend, that makes as much smoke as a train.
  - tyingq 6y ago
    Based on the sound, I think that's mostly steam. Some smoke, of course.
- _notreallyme_ 6y ago
  During the first test, the brakes didn't work and it knocked down a brick wall. It was in Paris close suburbs, not in Paris intra-muros. I am not aware that he was thrown in jail for that, it seems unlikely.
JoeAltmaier 6y ago
I hope that boiler has a relief valve, as a concession to modern safety requirements!
082349872349872 6y ago
That was 1770's in power transmission. Here's 1770's in information transmission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz8lB3y5euk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz8lB3y5euk
agumonkey 6y ago
less old but probably as fun to watch ride, Jay Leno steamers: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=jay+leno+steam+car&iax=videos&ia=videos https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=jay+leno+steam+car&iax=vide... Honestly, I'd love to own and drive one... something about how steam power rises softly and the effect of emitting water vapor.
- foobarian 6y ago
  I love to watch recordings of big engines starting. I am so glad there are organizations and individuals preserving these artifacts and keeping them running. My favorite examples below: steam locomotive [1], and stationary pump engine [2]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx9Q8PphAVo&t=1s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx9Q8PphAVo&t=1s [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhlJp1VZMB8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhlJp1VZMB8
bigmattystyles 6y ago
I don't know why, but as a native French speaker 'le fardier de Cugnot' sounds dirty...
- kergonath 6y ago
  I think we’re hardwired to look for contrepèteries when we hear the syllable ‘cu’.

105 points by loulouxiv 6y ago

The original is in the "Musée des arts et métiers" Museum in Paris. I highly recommend to visit the museum if you ever are in Paris. It's filled with all kind of original scientific and engineering devices. Lavoisier device that split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Jaquard's weaving loom using punching cards. Clément Ader's late 19th century attempt at creating a plane. Blaise Pascal's Mechanical calculator. Prototype metre bar. Old supercomputers...

rashkov 6y ago
They also have Foucoult's pendulum (the original, as well a working replica in action). It's a really unique feeling to observe the earth rotating beneath you. I loved this museum when I visited. I learned about here on Hacker News, so I hope others will take note of this museum. It was remarkable how beautifully designed the objects were. Scientific instruments, architectural models, prototypes and machinery. All beautifully made with a focus on aesthetics as well as functionality.
- edgarvaldes 6y ago
  I can't read about the Musée des arts et métiers without thinking in Umberto Eco's book (Foucault's Pendulum)
_ZeD_ 6y ago
If you pass in Milan you should not miss the "museo nazionale della scienza e tecnologia leonardo da vinci"[0], filled with labs, expositions ... and a real submarine (the S506 Enrico Toti) [0] https://www.museoscienza.org/ https://www.museoscienza.org/

athenot 6y ago

Here a video of it in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQfm6qYADw4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQfm6qYADw4

londons_explore 6y ago
I hope they snuck in a modern pressure relief valve in there somewhere... If not - I wouldn't want to be anywhere near the thing while the fires lit!
- nraynaud 6y ago
  I am pretty sure the entire boiler is made of steel, with modern standards, nobody would dare to make a boiler out of cast iron anymore.
pengaru 6y ago
The demonstration payload is the best part.

tyingq 6y ago

"Popular legend says it belched and snorted through the streets, frightening the good citizens of Paris, before it overturned and knocked down a wall, whereupon it was confiscated and its inventor thrown into prison" https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2118816/1771-cugnot-fardier-vapeur-mother-all-motorcars/ https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2118816/1771-cugnot-fardier-v... "Popular legend", but interesting if true.

realusername 6y ago
After seeing the video above of the machine in action, I totally believe the legend, that makes as much smoke as a train.
- tyingq 6y ago
  Based on the sound, I think that's mostly steam. Some smoke, of course.
_notreallyme_ 6y ago
During the first test, the brakes didn't work and it knocked down a brick wall. It was in Paris close suburbs, not in Paris intra-muros. I am not aware that he was thrown in jail for that, it seems unlikely.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago

I hope that boiler has a relief valve, as a concession to modern safety requirements!

082349872349872 6y ago

That was 1770's in power transmission. Here's 1770's in information transmission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz8lB3y5euk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz8lB3y5euk

agumonkey 6y ago

less old but probably as fun to watch ride, Jay Leno steamers: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=jay+leno+steam+car&iax=videos&ia=videos https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=jay+leno+steam+car&iax=vide... Honestly, I'd love to own and drive one... something about how steam power rises softly and the effect of emitting water vapor.

foobarian 6y ago
I love to watch recordings of big engines starting. I am so glad there are organizations and individuals preserving these artifacts and keeping them running. My favorite examples below: steam locomotive [1], and stationary pump engine [2]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx9Q8PphAVo&t=1s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx9Q8PphAVo&t=1s [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhlJp1VZMB8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhlJp1VZMB8

bigmattystyles 6y ago

I don't know why, but as a native French speaker 'le fardier de Cugnot' sounds dirty...

kergonath 6y ago
I think we’re hardwired to look for contrepèteries when we hear the syllable ‘cu’.